Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem John Loza, an influential and outspoken lawyer, died unexpectedly Tuesday night. He was 54.

The Dallas County medical examiner's office had not declared a cause of death Wednesday afternoon. Loza's husband, David Hill, said he came home Tuesday night and found Loza unresponsive.

Loza, who was diabetic and previously had esophageal varices, appeared "like he threw up a large amount of blood" before he died, Hill said. Esophageal varices are enlarged veins that block normal blood flow in the tube that connects the throat and stomach. That forces blood into smaller vessels that can leak or rupture.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam Medrano, who announced the death before a City Council briefing, called Loza "a great leader for our community." Loza was especially close to the Medrano political dynasty and its allies.

Other council members said that Loza could be curmudgeonly at times, but that he loved Dallas.

"He was probably my favorite council member, even though he could be so snarky," said Sandy Greyson, who served on the council with him. "You just had to like him. This is a terrible shock."

Loza grew up in Mesquite as the youngest of four children, Hill said. Loza's family owned a restaurant in the Little Mexico neighborhood that has since become the area around Victory Park.

The graduate of St. Mark's School of Texas and Harvard University earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1988. Loza went to work as a Dallas County prosecutor for several years before he ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1995. He won in 1997 when he was just 33 years old.

Domingo Garcia asks a question as colleague John Loza listens during a redistricting commission public hearing in April 2011.

(2011 File Photo)

John Loza, a graduate of St. Mark's School and Harvard University, earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1988.

(2011 File Photo)

John Loza

(2011 File Photo)

Loza's council colleagues elected him deputy mayor pro tem in 2001 and mayor pro tem in 2003.

(2011 File Photo)

John Loza (right) gave his endorsement to mayoral candidate Ed Oakley during a news conference at Pikes Park on Harry Hines Boulevard in June 2007.

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Dallas mayoral candidate Ed Oakley was greeted by supporters, including John Loza (right), before his concession speech as he lost a runoff election to Tom Leppert in 2007.

(File Photo/Staff)

John Loza

(File Photo/Staff)

A supporter held an American and Mexican flag as attorney Andrew Chatham (left) spoke to Dallas area media Oct. 3, 2002, at a news conference asking for the release of Jaime Chavez and Manuel Rodriguez Garcia. The two cases are related to the fake-drug scandal. City council member John Loza (right) and other public officials were on hand to ask the district attorney's office to free the two.

(File Photo/Staff)

Dallas City Council member John Loza gazed at a 90-foot mural called "What it Feels Like to Live With HIV/AIDS" at the Dallas Public Library on Oct. 28, 1998. The mural arrived in time for the start of the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Dallas.

(File Photo/Staff)

From left: John Loza, Bob Flowers and Les Tanaka at the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.

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From left: Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem John Loza greets former City Council member Al Lipscomb after a council meeting at City Hall.

(File Photo/Staff)

Loza met Hill at a cocktail party in January of that year. The two were married in 2015.

Hill said Loza had two sides.

"John Loza doesn't like people," he said. "He's not known for his people skills, anything like that. ... But at the same time, there was a side of John Loza that a few of us got to see: very tender-hearted, very sweet."

Loza helped push for a restaurant smoking ban and for an ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment and public places like hotels and restaurants. He also fought against the Trinity River toll road and the "strong mayor" election that would have eliminated the city manager position and awarded executive authority to the mayor. Loza had remained active locally in the 13 years since he left the council.

Loza's colleagues elected him deputy mayor pro tem in 2001 and mayor pro tem in 2003. He served on the council for four terms, representing downtown Dallas, Deep Ellum and Oak Lawn.

He had some bumpy moments during his tenure. Loza routinely struggled to file campaign finance reports on time during his first term. In 1999, he was convicted of a DWI in Austin and was sentenced to probation while serving as public safety committee chairman. He also was once fined more than $3,000 for missing too many council meetings — a policy he supported.

Hill said Loza took the fine in stride. Hill said Loza, despite being "kind of grumpy," had "left Dallas a better place."

After he left the council, Loza remained civically active. He served a stint on the DFW International Airport board, as board chair of nonprofits OutLast Youth, which helps LGBT people experiencing homelessness, and AIDS Arms. He served on the city's redistricting committee in 2011.

Council member Omar Narvaez and Medrano, who were both emotional Wednesday, said Loza had encouraged them to run for office and had provided support for them.

Hill said the Medranos are like family to him and Loza.

Council members Rickey Callahan and Tennell Atkins also said Loza had given them guidance. And Dallas lawyer Domingo Garcia, a former council member and state representative, said Loza was "a great contributor to the life of Dallas."

Loza also actively commented on national and local politics — often sarcastically — on Facebook. His last post was a criticism of President Donald Trump.

Outside of politics, Hill described Loza as a kind criminal defense attorney who had a passion for rescuing cats.

Loza vomited Tuesday before Hill left their Oak Lawn home — it was Loza's grandparents' house — to run his theater company in Athens. Hill said that he didn't think much of it, and that Loza said he was OK.

When Hill got home, he said, he found the lights were off and Loza lying in a contorted position.

Funeral arrangements haven't been determined. Hill said that he's struggling with the death, but that Loza is in a better place.

"He's not suffering. He doesn't have to give himself insulin shots anymore," Hill said. "He's with his mom and dad. He's seeing them. Some cats that really wanted to see him — I'm not very religious, but I do believe he's with these cats and they're happy and he's happy."